Yemen President decreases powers of ex-president's son and defected general Ali Mohsen

By Mohammed al-Kibsi

President Abdu Raboo Mansour Hadi has issued a decree stripping the ex-president’s son  and the commander of the first armor brigade of part of their military command, a measure seen as a step toward reforming the armed forces.

Monday’s decision by President Hadi transfers command of three brigades of the Republican Guards and one of the first armor brigades to his direct oversight to be considered as the presidency protection unit under the direct command of the president.

The Republican Guards, Yemen’s best trained forces, are commanded by Ahmed Ali, son of the former president and the first armor brigade are commanded by defected general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar.

Another republican decree was indorsed, stripping other four republican guards brigades and four armor brigades and putting them under commander of regional military units.

Hadi’s move is expected to ease Ahmad Ali’s and Ali Mohsen’s influence over the military, giving Hadi more influence over the military forces.

The republican decree was preceded by holding a meeting between the military committee that was assigned by Hadi to restructure the military and security forces and between the ambassadors of the 5 permanent members of the  UN security council and ambassadors of the Gulf states to inform them about the reshuffle.